Globalkids Early Learning Centre takes children from birth to six years old at 70 Hume Street in Sydenham, Christchurch, in a home-like setting where children are not grouped by age. Older children help younger ones, following the Māori idea of tuakana-teina. The centre uses ideas from the Pikler philosophy, so each child has one primary caregiver who is the family's point of contact. Learning is planned around each child's interests and stage rather than age, and the programme follows Te Whāriki, the New Zealand early childhood curriculum. The centre also recognises the bicultural partnership of the Treaty of Waitangi and welcomes families from all cultures. Sustainability is part of daily practice, and the website says parents are kept informed as policies are reviewed.
Parents say the team puts children first, is welcoming, involved with the children and very safe. One family says their son has been there for more than a year and that the staff are amazing. Another found the team friendly and helpful on a visit to the centre. Within a kilometre there are five other childcare services, and the nearest are BestStart Huntsbury at 0.3 km, Poppies Preschool at 0.3 km, Fingerprints Christian Preschool at 0.6 km and Kidsfirst Kindergartens Beckenham at 0.7 km. Poppies and Kidsfirst are rated highly, and Globalkids sits level with them at the top of the group on Open Locally.